Weatherstripping



United States Patent Ofltice 3,224,947 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 This invention relates to an article of Weatherstripping use. More particularly, this invention relates to weatherstripping for use in sealing joints between doors, windows, and other closures, and also the frames and structural supports therefor.

Many different kinds of Weatherstripping are available. However, many of these different kinds of weatherstripping are difficult to install. Moreover, some of the types of Weatherstripping that are available for installation around doors and windows are susceptible to leakage caused by dents when the Weatherstripping is accidentally hit or sprung, and may cause the familiar Weatherstrip drag that requires slamming or tugging when closing or opening a door. Furthermore, certain kinds of Weatherstripping that are now available tend to vibrate at some wind velocities, to produce an unpleasant, singing noise.

One object of the present invention is to provide a practical Weatherstripping article that is easy to install.

Another object of the invention is to provide a practical Weatherstripping article that can be installed very quickly, and with very little labor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a weatherstripping article that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, light in weight, but that is extremely strong because of its design.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article for the Weatherstripping of closure members such as doors and windows, that is not materially affected by changes in temperature, or by moisture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a practical Weatherstripping for use with sash balance windows that will improve and make more reliable the performance of the sash balances.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved Weatherstripping article for use with closures such as doors and windows, that is safe to install, and that does not present sharp edges that could injure a person or cause damage to articles such as, for example, curtains, drapes, and clothing.

A related object of the invention is to provide a Weatherstripping article for movable closure members that permits easier operation of the movable members by eliminating or minimizing Weatherstrip drag.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims. To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will hereinafter be more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a persepective view of a Weatherstripping article that is constructed in accordance with one preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof from a different angle;

FIG. 3 is an end view thereof, and

FIG. 4 is a transverse section of a weatherstripped closure member that has been formed with a channel and slot of the proper size to receive the Weatherstripping, and showing by a dashed line the position of a second closure member against which the Weatherstripping can be engaged, under compression, to form a seal.

Referring now in detail to the drawing by numerals of reference, the numeral 10 denotes a base that is formed from a ribbon-like strip of sheet metal, preferably aluminum. A strip 11 of fabric is disposed on the base 10, and opposite marginal portions 12, 14 respectively of the base are clamped around the opposite marginal portions of the fabric strip respectively. The strip 11 is woven with upstanding, resilient fibers 15 that form a deep pile.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention that is illustrated in the drawing, the base 10 and its marginal portions 12 and 14 respectively are formed from one transverse portion of a wide, unitary, ribbon of sheet metal. This sheet is bent back upon itself at its marginal portion 14, to form a clamp 16 that is clinched over the marginal portion 14 and about the edge of the base. The clamp 16 is integral with another transverse portion 18 of the ribbon that underlies a part of the base and that interconnects the clamp 16 with a downwardly depending flange 20 that is offset to one side of the transverse center line of the base. The flange 20 is formed at its lower extremity with an integral, upturned lip 21 that extends generally back toward the base but that is inclined to the flange. The lip 21 is formed with a series of uniformly spaced, outwardly inclined dimples or flutes 22.

Weatherstripping that is made'in accordance with this invention is best used in combination with a retainer or closure member, such as, for example, a door 24 (FIG. 4) that is formed with -a recess or channel 26, within which the base of the Weatherstripping can be seated, and with a slot 28 that is centered in the channel, to receive the flange 20 and its lip 21. The width of the slot 28 is less than the maximum combined width of the flange 20 and lip 21.

To assemble the Weatherstripping and the door, the end of the flange 20 is inserted in the slot 28 and suflicient pressure is applied to spring the lip 21 back slightly and force it into the slot. When the Weatherstripping is properly seated in the recess 26, the points of the flutes 22 are engaged against one wall of the slot 28 and will resist any movement tending to withdraw the flange from the slot. The pile fibers 15 project outwardly from the door, and are disposed to engage against another structural member, such as, for example, a door frame '30 indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 4, under slight compression, to form a tight seal.

One Of the important advantages of Weatherstripping, that is made in accordance with the present invention, is that it is easily installed. While the use of a recess or channel in which the Weatherstripping seats is desirable, it is not absolutely necessary. The slot, in which the flange of the Weatherstripping projects, may be the kerf formed by the passage of a saw blade through the retainer part.

Another important advantage of Weatherstripping that is constructed in accordance with the present invention is that, properly installed, it has no projecting parts on which curtain, drapes or clothing can be caught and torn. It cannot be distorted out of its proper shape when accidentally hit or sprung, and the height and density of the pile can be selected to obtain optimum performance in a particular installation. Undesirable Weatherstripping drag, between weatherstripped movable members, such as a door and its frame, can be eliminated without any sacrifice in insulating and weather stripping values, by proper selections of pile height and density.

Several modifications in the structure that is illustrated can be made, within the scope of the present invention. For example, the woven pile strip could be secured to the metal base by an adhesive rather than mechanically, as shown. Alternatively, the pile fibers could be flocked directly on the metal base, instead of being woven into a backing that in turn is secured to the base. Moreover, while the base preferably is formed from a single, ribbon-like metal strip, it could be made from separate strips that are mechanically joined, or from an extruded plastic strip.

From the mechanical standpoint, the means for retaining the stripping in place on the closure member is also susceptible of modification. While it is preferred to use the construction that is illustrated, in which the flange and its fluted lip are integral and are formed from a resilient metallic-ribbon, other structures can be used to obtain the jackknifiing action that resists Withdrawal of the stripping from the closure member. For example, separate jackknife members could be employed in place of a continuous lip; more than one lip could be used, and the lips could engage both walls rather than just one; or a single lip could be formed in sections bent first one .Way, then the other, to engage both walls of the slot.

While the invention has been disclosed herein by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than in a limiting sense, and it is contemplated that various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a generally T-shaped article for Weatherstripping use, the combination comprising:

(a) an elongate backing strip;

(b) a row of pile fibers secured to said backing strip intermediate its edges to form an elongate, deep pile row of insulating fibers, said backing strip extending laterally beyond the area of juncture of said pile row and said backing strip along each respective edge of said backing strip;

(c) an elongate sheet metal holding strip adapted for maintaining said pile row in a desired insulating position;

((1) said sheet metal holding strip being formed to define an elongate generally flat base portion forming the cross arm of a T;

i -(e) said backing strip being disposed flat on said base portion so that said pile row extends outward from one side of said base portion;

(f) a first longitudinal edge of said sheet metal holding strip being bent over a first longitudinal edge of said backing strip to clamp said first longitudinal edge of said backing strip to said base portion;

(g) said sheet metal strip being folded upon itself along a longitudinal line outward of a second opposite longitudinal edge of said backing strip, and said folded portion of said sheet metal strip being bent over said second edge of said backing strip to clamp said second edge of said backing strip securely to said base portion;

(11) said sheet metal strip being bent away from said base portion along a longitudinal line spaced from said fold line so as to form a flange extending away from the side of said base portion opposite that side from which said pile row extends and forming the upright arm of a T; and

(i) a second opposite longitudinal edge of said metal holding strip being upturned to form a lip angled away from said flange at an acute angle to provide an edge for biting into one wall of a slot into which said holding strip is inserted with said flange engaging the opposite Wall of said slot to resist Withdrawl of said holding strip from said slot and thereby dispose said pile row in a desired insulating orientation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,082,375 12/1913 Vachon 2069 1,570,186 1/1926 Replogle 2069 1,787,523 1/1931 Heinen 2069 1,904,491 4/1933 Manhan 189-65 2,108,450 2/1938 Schlegel 18965 2,169,503 8/1939 Schlegel 9644.5 X 2,264,588 12/1941 Rydquist 2069 2,293,292 8/1942 Goellner 2069 2,613,407 10/1952 Foresman 2069 2,613,408 10/1952 Bailey 2069 2,799,063 7/ 1957 Miller 2069 FOREIGN PATENTS 555,694 9/1943 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner. 

